Volunteers empower museums to preserve and present heritage. At Kelowna Museums Society, over 100 volunteers are at work every year.
How will you share your skills?
Volunteers welcome guests at the front desks of our 3 museums, or serve as hosts at special events. Some work with historical materials, conduct research, catalogue collections, and clean objects. Others participate in exhibition creation or family programs.
Volunteers with particular knowledge or abilities get the satisfaction of applying their skills to meaningful projects. These volunteers include people with traditional skills, model railway or radio hobbyists, carpenters, artists, writers, photographers, videographers, and even apiarists!
An area of interest for everyone!
People with a particular interest in military history, local sports, and Okanagan’s fruit and wine industries enjoy mobilizing that knowledge in museum projects. Between the Okanagan Heritage Museum, Okanagan Military Museum, Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, and Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum, Kelowna Museums Society presents topics that speak to a wide range of interests.
Want to learn more?
Contact the Museums Services Coordinator at 250-763-2417, or info@kelownamuseums.ca.
Kelowna Museums Locations
Okanagan Heritage Museum
Kelowna’s flagship museum, the Okanagan Heritage Museum, invites visitors to discover how the Okanagan Valley was formed, to gain insights into the world of our syilx hosts, to learn about the arrival of traders and settlers and so much more.
Okanagan Military Museum
Devoted to the preservation and greater awareness of Okanagan military heritage, the Okanagan Military Museum features uniforms, insignia, badges, firearms and fascinating stories of how locals have contributed to events on the world stage.
Laurel Packinghouse
One of Kelowna’s most historic and beloved buildings, the Laurel Packinghouse is the oldest and largest packinghouse in BC. Part atmospheric rental venue, part museum, this is a building that charms both locals and visitors alike.
Kelowna Museums’ Upcoming Events & Workshops
k’west’lap ee stethtatht (Truth Shows Itself)
Presented by syilx Elders Grouse and Pamela Barnes, this workshop series will help you understand and progress on the Truth and Reconciliation journey. Through four 3-hour workshops, participants access 12 hours of training in Indigenous cultural competency led by syilx Elders who are experts in this topic, having presented to workplaces and academic groups over many years.
Truth and Reconciliation – (Un)learn with Kelowna Museums
Join us for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. Our all-ages guided and self-guided stations help you learn about the history and culture of the syilx people, both pre-contact and post-contact.
nakulamen (what we do): syilx Traditional Plant Use Walking Tour
Stroll from the Laurel Packinghouse to the Rotary Marsh with syilx knowledge carriers as they teach about traditional plant use.